"The Pogrom (1938)" Summary

Walking home from school, the narrator finds Dr. Ashkenase's office ransacked and the contents strewn on the street. A trail of broken glass leads to Abraham Rosenthal's shop, which is being looted. Five men and three women, helmeted and armed with crowbars, are heading towards a Jewish home for apprentices. Spectators remark the Jews have had it coming and hope the mob does not miss anyone. The narrator joins the group. The mob builds up courage and demands someone open the door. There is no answer as a woman with an ugly shrill voice eggs them on. Someone tries to break down the door with his shoulder several times and then others join him. The narrator finds himself drawn into the rhythmic chanting, "One - two - three!" The narrator does not know how he comes to be helping...